The second release from Al Jazeera‘s undercover sting operation on key members of the Israel lobby in Britain revealed a £1,000,000 plot by the Israeli government to undermine Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The Al Jazeera investigation took place over several months in 2016, with an undercover reporter becoming a trusted confidant of Israeli diplomat Shai Masot. The reporter filmed key conversations among Masot and British political allies over the summer, revealing a network of pro-Israel organisations committed to ‘taking down’ UK politicians who attempted to defend Palestinian rights.

The first revelation caught Masot and British civil servant Maria Strizzolo. Masot was a senior political officer at the Israeli embassy in London, with diplomatic immunity. Strizzolo is the former parliamentary assistant to Robert Halfon, a junior education minister and former deputy chair of the Conservative Party. After Strizzolo brags about elevating Halfon from backbencher to government minister, and planting a pro-Israel question in parliament through him, Masot asks if she is as effective at taking anti-Israel politicians down as building pro-Israel politicians up.

__________________

Quote:

We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.

We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.

Complaint issued to TV station and government over Sanne Wallis de Vries's version of 'Toy', which condemned Israel's treatment of Palestinians

Israel has formally complained over a Dutch comedian's parody of Israel's Eurovision song contest winner. The parody criticises Israeli treatment of Palestinians and was branded 'anti-Semitic' by some viewers.

Sanne Wallis de Vries, the comedian, ridiculed Israel on BNNVARA TV with her rendition of “Toy”, originally performed by Netta Barzilai.

De Vries sang her parody in front of images of protests in the Gaza Strip on 14 May, the same day as the US opened its embassy in west Jerusalem. The comedian also used the song to say the US move was a money making venture.

Footage of the separation wall, Israeli soldiers firing at crowds, and "March of Return" protests also featured in the background.

Some Dutch viewers claimed on Twitter that the song was "anti-Israel" and also "anti-Semitic".

“Is this what my taxes go on?” one Twitter user asked. “Once again anti-Semitism has returned to the mainstream! How sad,” another complained.

“Now you have really been exposed,” wrote another. “You don’t have the courage to condemn Islam.”

The Israeli embassy in the Netherlands submitted a formal complaint to the television station that broadcast the parody. The complaint was also sent to the Dutch foreign ministry and to a leading Jewish community group.

The details of the formal Israeli complaint were not made clear.

De Vries's lyrics said: "Look at me, I am such a cute country; World leaders all eat out of my hand; I make all fires disappear with a kiss; We are having a party, you wanna come?

"In al-Aqsa mosque, which will soon be empty; From Haifa to the Dead Sea; there is kosher food and drink; So come and dance with me."